Let-off attachment for looms



June 1 1926. 1,586,982

J. EPFS LET- OFF ATTACHMENT FOR LOOMS Filed August 28. 1923 June 1 1926. 1,586,982

7 J. EPPS LET OFF ATTACHMENT FOR LOOMS Filed August 28. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1, 1926.

FFlCE.

JOSEPH EPPS, 0F WILLIAMSTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNUR OF ONE-HALF TO THOSS IVORY BARBER, OF NILLIAMSTQN, SUUTH CAROLINA.

LET-OFF ATTACHMENT FOR LOOIVIS.

Application filed August 28, 1823.

This invention relates to let off attachments for weaving looms and has particular reference to the provision of a device of this kind having a cam drive or operating means.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a let off attachment for looms by means of which the let off is always uniform, and by means of which a positive operation is obtained, so that the occurrence of uneven picks is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to pr vide a cam drive let oiT attachment for looms which may be setor adjusted to let off at any time during the operation of the loom, or on or between any center.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cam drive let off attachment instead of one driven by the sword or picker foot, whereby the breakage of picker feet or driving rod arms is eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above kind by means of which better cloth will be obtained and whereby increased production at a lower cost is insured.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the acconr panying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elcvational view of a conventional form of loom provided with a cam drive let off attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention. 7 Y 7 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear-edge elevational view of the cam follower lever'and a vertical sectional View through the spring lar alone.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the arm which is attached to the warp lron bracket for carrying the supportlng pm of the cam follower lever.

$eria1 No. 659,717.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective View of the cam, and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the cam follower engaging collar or abutment which is carried by the driving rod arm.

From the description thus far given it will be seen that the invention to be hereinafterdescribed in detail,"is an attachment capable of being applied to a conventional loom without requiring alterations of the same. Inorder that a clear comprehension UNITED s'rrs of the invention may be had, I may state that the conventional loom referred to is substantially the same as the loom shown in Patent No. 647,815, granted to Roper and Draper, joint inventors; A careful conv sideration of this patent preparatory to considering the improved attachment will un" doubtedly aid in enabling a clear under- 7 standing of'the latter to be gained. As will be seen in the drawings, however, certain portions of the conventional loom are illustrated so that the parts with which the attachment cooperates may be readily ascertained. 7

Having carefully considered the above named patent and referring more in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates an end frame member of the aforesaid patented weaving loom, through which projects an end of the rotary cam shaft 6. This cam shaft usually has a collar secured upon the projecting end thereof, and in accordance with the present invention this collar is removed, and a two point cam' secured thereon instead. This two point cam is indicated by th reference numeral 7 and includes a sleeve 8 carrying a set screw 9 by means of which the cam is fixed to turn with the shaft 6. Also, it is apparent that the cam may be turned and adjusted relative to the shaft and then secured in its adjusted position by means of theset screw 9.

The loom further embodies a warp iron bracltet 10 in the nature of a rod which projects outwardly beyond the frame member 5 at a point below and rearwardly of the cam shaft 6 as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. An arm 11 has a sleeve 12 at its lower end through which are threaded set screws 13, and this sleeve 12 fits on the projecting end of the warp iron bracket 10 where it is socured so that the arm 11 projects upwardly and is held by means of said set screws 13 as shown in Figure 2. An outwardly projecting pin 13 has its inner end fixed in an opening 1 1 (Figure 6) in the upper end of the arm 11 and secured upon the outer end portion of the pin 13 are a pair of cup.- shaped collars 15 that are arranged in spaced relation. The inner collar is secured in place preferably by means of a cotter pinas shown at 16 in Figure 3, while the outer collar 15 is attached by means of a set screw 17 carried thereby and adapted to be brought into engagement with the pin 13. A cam follower in the nature of a lever 18 is pivoted upon the pin 13 between the collars 15, and this lever includes an upwardly projecting arm arranged to be engaged by the cam 7 as clearly shown in Figure 1. The follower lever 18 is normally swung so that its upwardly extending arm engages the cam 7 by means of a spring having coiled ends 19 anchored within the collars 15 and a U shaped portion 20 that extends across the rear edge of the lever 18 as shown in Figures. 1 andS at a point above the pin 13.

The loom is provided with the usual ratchet gear or wheel 21 that is carried by the shaft 22 disposed rearwardly of the pin 13, which ratchet wheel is adapted to be given a step by step or intermittent rotary motion by means 01" a pawl or pallet finger 23 pivoted upon the upper end of the usual control lever 2 l that is pivoted upon the shaft 22 and has depending arm pivotally connected to the rear end of the usual pull rod The rod 25 in the usual construction usually extends to the upper end of the sword or picker toot indicated at 26 in Figure 1.

In accordance with the present invention, the depending arm of the cam follower lever 18 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 27 through which the forward end of the driving rod 25 loosely projects, and an abutment or stop collar 28 is fixed upon this end of the driving rod 25 by means 01 a set screw 29 carried by said collar and adapted to engage the rod 25. The collar is disposed at the forward edge of the lever 18 as clearly shown in Figure 1, so that when the cam 7 revolves with the shaft 6, the cam lever 18 will be swung in a manner to exert a thrust upon the collar 28, thereby causing the rod 25 to be pulled forwardly so as to swing the control lever 24: and cause its pawl 23 to partially rotate the ratchet wheel 21. The general manner of use and effect upon the different parts of the loom is somewhat the same as usual except that a more positive and desirable operating mechanism for the control lever 2st is provided by the employment of the elements 7 and 18 and associated parts, instead of extending the rod 25 to the sword or picker foot 26.

The coiled ends of the spring which holds the upper arm of the lever 18 into engagetween any center.

ment with the cam 7 are provided with outturned ends 30 which project into openings in the collars 15 and indicated with respect to one of the collars as at 81 in Figure 1, thus preventingrotation of the coiled ends of the spring on the pin 13 and holding the spring under tension. From the foregoing description it is obvious that l have evolved and produced a simple and practical let ofl attachniient which is capable of being employed successfully with a loom oi the type nention'ed in the aforesaid prior patent and with other sin'iilarly constructed looms. In the particular loom to which the invention has been attached, the rod is a comparatively longer rod, and was heretolore connected with and operated in one direction by the sword. in the present invention however, the rod is made approximately half of its usual length, and the tor ward end terminates beneath or ightly beyond the cam shaft on which the aforesaid cam block is mounted. The cam block, lever, abutment, etc. serves to move the pawl in a direction from left to right to impart a corresponding directira of movement to the ratchet wheel Through the medium ot the usual reversing gearing, the warp beam is rotated in the opposite direction to function as a let off. The usual spring return means acting in conjunction with the whip roller (not shown) and cranl; arm functions in the usual way, to rotate the rod 25, pawl and carrying arm to their normal positions shown in Figure 1. Thus, it will be seen that the attachment which I have devised serves to impart movement to the rod 25 in one direction, whereas the usual spring return means on a loom of the class specified, serves to move it in the opposite direction to set it and complete the stroke.

It will thus be seen that by rotary adjustment of the cam 7 relatively to the shaft 6,

the device can be set to let 0d at any timing 1 of the operation of the loom or on or be- It will also be seen that as the cam is equally divided or provided with two equally spaced and similarly formed points, the let off will always be the 1 same at each stroke, and will be obtained in a positive manner for preventing what is commonly known as roay cloth, or uneven ick. p It will also be seen that by driving from the cam shaft instead of from the sword or picker foot, breakage of the picker feet or of the driving rod arm is prevented. In addition, there is less friction which results in longer life of the ratchet wheel and the whole let off attachment, besides preventing the occurrence of the sword working loose and slipping out of place, an occurrence which causes the filling rack to hit the filling fork and make thin places in the cloth.

A further advantage of the invention is that the cam may be set to let off before the reed hits the cloth, thus preventing the ends from breaking from the warp of the beam to the cloth.

It is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. In combination, a cam shaft projecting beyond one end of a loom frame, a two-point cam fixed upon the projecting end of said cam shaft, a warp iron bracket projecting beyond the end frame of the loom below said cam shaft, a pin supported from said warp iron bracket and having a cam lever pivoted thereon, means yieldingly and normally engaging one end of the lever with said cam, a ratchet wheel forming part of a let olf mechanism and having a control lever associated therewith, said control lever hav ing a pawl operatively engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a driving rod for said control lever extending loosely through the other arm of said cam lever, and an abutment adjustably mounted upon said driving rod whereby the latter is caused to be pulled upon when the cam lever is swung by said cam for causing operative movement of the control lever.

2. In combination with the ratchet wheel and control lever of a loom let oif mechanism, wherein the control lever embodies an upstandin arm having a pivoted pawl associated with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, and a depending arm pivoted to the rear end of a driving rod, a cam fixed upon the cam shaft of the loom, a cam lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having its upwardly extending portion bearing upon said cam and provided with a slot or opening in its lower portion through which said driving rod loosely projects, and an abutment engaging the forward edge of the cam lever and fixed upon the forward end of said driving rod, said cam lever having yieldable means for normally swinging the same in a direction to engage its upwardly extending portion normally with said cam, a supporting pin for said cam lever, and a supporting arm for said pin secured to the warp iron bracket of the loom.

3. In a let-off for looms, a double cam having an attaching collar adapted to be fitted upon the cam shaft of the loom, a cam actuated lever having a bearing opening between its ends and provided at its lower end with an elongated slot, spring means in association with the intermediate portion of the lever for maintaining the upper end thereof in constant engagement with said cam, a pin upon which said lever is rockably mounted and anchoring means for the ends of the spring carried by said pin.

4. In a let-off for looms, a double cam block having opposed flat edges, rounded ends, and a centrally disposed attaching collar; a lever adapted for coaction with said cam, said lever being provided between its ends with a bearing opening through which a relatively stationary supporting pin is adapted to extend, the lower end of the lever being provided with an elongated slot through which a pull rod is adapted to extend, cupv shaped collars adapted for disposition on opposed sides of said lever, and a spring having its ends coiled and anchored to said collars, the intermediate portion of the spring being bent into U-shape, and the {J-shaped portion straddling one edge of said ever.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

JOSEPH EPPS. 

